Introduction

"In computer science, the term “peer-to-peer” refers to a network formed by a series of nodes that behave as equal to each other, acting both as clients and servers for the other network nodes, allowing direct exchange of information.

This is a theoretical movement, emerged from informal settlements and self-constructed architecture, considering these processes as beneficial for the evolution of the urban environment and returning to the user the participation and the decision making power that was lost.

It tries to accommodate the different practices that are currently appearing in the urban discipline, some of which I have spoken here before, as the tactical urbanism, the spontaneous city or crowdfunding, among others.

All of them based on a horizontal urbanism, bottom-up projects, with the common feature of requiring the commitment and participation of citizens involved in the process."

Characteristics:

"In Urbanism, the application of this term has led to a movement that draws on the principles of open source and is defined in 5 points:

1. The human being has the right to choose the built environment in which to live.

2. All citizens should have access to information regarding their environment in order to engage in processes of decision making.

3. Users should participate in all levels of co-design and construction of their city.

4. P2P Urbanism practitioners are committed to spreading knowledge about open source technologies and theories.

5. The owners of the built environment should be able to implement the development of knowledge, skills and practices on it."

Citations

We have fractured these urban networks, and rebuilt much more dispersed, “dendritic” systems, connected not by pedestrians, but by automobiles, dispersed suburban campuses and parks, and single-family monocultures, supplemented by telephones and now, computers. The majority of us lives in encapsulated houses, in encapsulated neighborhoods, and travel in encapsulated cars to encapsulated work places, stores and other destinations.

"There are two types of smart city. The P2P smart city, which enables citizens to exchange information directly with each other. Then there's the panoptic smart city, in which data is centralised, manipulated, and then used to control city functions."

Design for a Post-Neoliberal City. Jesko Fezer. e-flux journal 17, 06/2016. [8] "From being strategic sites for the implementation of neoliberal policy, cities may possibly become a new political arena for experiments in democracy—and thus require a new design.

Urban Public Spaces as Commons: Article: CHALLENGE OF NEW COMMONS – URBAN PUBLIC SPACES . Veronika Poklembovái, Tatiana Kluvánková-Oravskáii, Maroš Finkaiii. [9]: "In this paper we are critically discussing with existing literature and case studies the applicability and relevance of the design principles for urban public spaces as urban commons."

More on the bio-urbanistic work of Nikos A. Salingaros (and Michael Mehaffy), in an ongoing series in Metropolis magazine:

Key Blogs and Websites

Key Books

Common Ground in a Liquid City: Essays in Defense of an Urban Future. Matt Hern. AK Press, 2009. [10]: If we want to preserve what's still left of the natural world, we need to stop using so much of it. And cities are the best chance we have left for a sustainable future ... but only if they remain vibrant, dynamic spaces that are unfolded by millions of people working together—and not by master plans and planners. What will it take to make our cities truly sustainable?

(e)Book: How to Design Our World for Happiness. The Commons Guide to Placemaking, Public space, and Enjoying a Convivial Life. By Jay Walljasper and On the Commons, 2013. [11]

Open Source Building and Housing Projects

Auram CEB Block System] developed at Auroville India: This is the most advanced CEB block system in existence. Sort-of open in that they claim the technology is offered free to the world to use, but don't publish exact plans for anything